SPA description
(information as published 2001)

Dengie (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 1)

image: SPA location map 
Country  England
Unitary Authority  Essex 
SPA status  Classified 24/03/1994
Latitude  51 41 26 N
Longitude  00 57 34 E
SPA EU code UK9009242
Area (ha)  3127.23 
Component SSSI/ASSIs  Dengie

 

Dengie is located on the coast of Essex in eastern England. It is a large and remote area of tidal mud-flats and saltmarshes at the eastern end of the Dengie peninsula, between the adjacent Blackwater and Crouch Estuaries. The saltmarsh is the largest continuous example of its type in Essex. Foreshore, saltmarsh and beaches support an outstanding assemblage of rare coastal flora. It is of importance for wintering populations of Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, wildfowl and waders.

Dengie is an integral component of the phased Mid-Essex Coast SPA.
 
For more information see Phased, extended and subsumed SPAs  
 

Qualifying species

For individual species accounts visit the Species Accounts section

 
This site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European importance of the following species listed on Annex I of the Directive:
 
Over winter;
 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, 1,156 individuals representing at least 2.2% of the wintering population in Great Britain (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
 
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, 5 individuals representing at least 0.7% of the wintering population in Great Britain (5 year mean 1994/95-1998/99)
 
This site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European importance of the following migratory species:
 
Over winter;
 
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, 2,411 individuals representing at least 1.6% of the wintering Eastern Atlantic - wintering population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
 
Knot Calidris canutus, 8,393 individuals representing at least 2.4% of the wintering Northeastern Canada/Greenland/Iceland/Northwestern Europe population (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
 
Assemblage qualification: A wetland of international importance.
 
The area qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by regularly supporting at least 20,000 waterfowl
 
Over winter, the area regularly supports 31,452 individual waterfowl (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6) including: Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla bernicla, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus, Knot Calidris canutus, Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica.

Note:

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.
 
Note that sites selected for waterbird species on the basis of their occurrence in the breeding, passage or winter periods also provide legal protection for these species when they occur at other times of the year.